Q&A from FedSmith authors addressing readers’ questions. We share them here to help you with your federal career or retirement planning.
My wife and I have looked throughout our home town and can’t find even one financial advisor that specializes in working with federal employees. At the same time, I’m uncomfortable working with an advisor in another area of the country. What should we do?
I plan on retiring with 42 years and 7 months of service in Jan 2017. I will have accumulated 2500 hours of sick leave balance at time of retirement. I am in CSRS, so I was wondering what the increase in my annuity, expressed as a percentage, above the 80% value, would be due to credit for sick leave.
I work with an advisor with whom I feel pretty comfortable but wonder if there is any critical info he might be missing because he rarely deals with federal employees. Is there something in particular I can ask him to check into, to make sure?
Why are some employees under the Federal Wage System not being paid the full amount they are owed?
If I retire under FERS with 36 years of service prior to age 66 when I could receive the full Social Security amount, how is the supplement calculated or valued?
I was employed in a law enforcement officer position and retired under FERS. I am collecting my annuity and the “bridge.” I have an opportunity to be hired in a non LEO, part time position in the federal government. I understand that the “bridge” will be affected by the earnings amount but will it affect my pension?
I am curious if there is a rule/law that GS-9 and above cannot get overtime or comp time. Is there such a thing as a unwritten rule that a station can have to prevent this?
I’m over 70 and planning to retire in my late 70s. Are there one or two key things I should be looking at to start planning?
I am planning to retire at age 63 and waiting to withdraw my Social Security until I reach age 66. While my husband is still working, can he withdraw his Social Security at age 64? Can I apply for half of his Social Security while I am waiting to withdraw my Social Security?
OPM.gov gives examples of GS promotions while on retained pay using the 2 step rule. But how do you calculate a GS promotion step if your retained pay is already well above the amount computed using the 2 step rule?
